The Latest: Trump: Senate control a vital issue of our time

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump's visit to North Dakota (all times local):

9:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump says Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement makes control of the Senate "one of the vital issues of our time."

And he says the Court's decision this week in favor of his travel ban underscores its importance.

Trump is reacting to the news and discussing the process of picking a replacement at a rally in Fargo, North Dakota, on Wednesday for Republican Senate candidate Kevin Cramer. He is trying to unseat Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.

He says so many things go into the making of a great Supreme Court justice. He says, "We have to pick a great one" who will serve for 40 or 45 years.

Trump is also predicting that Democrats will do worse than expected in the upcoming midterm elections.

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7:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump is offering a hearty endorsement to congressman Kevin Cramer, the man he says will be "the next United States senator from the great state of North Dakota."

Trump told a rally crowd in Fargo on Wednesday that Cramer loves the state and its people.

He noted that Heitkamp voted against repealing President Barack Obama's health care law and the Republican tax plan and claims she'll also oppose his Supreme Court Justice pick.

Cramer thanked Trump "for not forgetting us" and said he'll always be with "them and with you."

"MyPillow" founder and Trump friend, Mike Lindell, was also at the rally. The president says he's actually used the product, "believe it or not."

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6:25 p.m.

President Donald Trump has arrived in North Dakota to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kevin Cramer.

Trump tweeted before Wednesday's flight to Fargo that he was en route to "fully stand with and endorse" Cramer. Cramer serves in the U.S. House and Trump says he's an "extraordinary Congressman." Trump adds that Cramer is "tough on crime, strong on borders, loves our Military, and our Vets!"

Cramer is challenging Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, one of the most vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election. Trump won North Dakota by a large margin in 2016.

Heitkamp joined Democrats in voting against tax cuts Trump enacted last year. She also voted against some of his Cabinet nominees.

Cramer was an early Trump supporter and remains one of the president's staunchest allies in Congress.

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4:25 p.m.

Leaders of farm groups and food banks are using President Donald Trump's visit to North Dakota to protest about trade, ethanol production, nutrition programs and farm bill negotiations.

Dozens of farmers drove tractors and other farm equipment to the rally in West Fargo on Wednesday, just hours before Trump was scheduled to speak at a nearby hockey arena in Fargo.

North Dakota Farmers Union president Mark Watne says his group didn't want to get in the way of the president's rally but wanted people to know that Trump's actions are hurting demand for farm products.

Randy Richards is a farmer in Hope, North Dakota. He said most of his neighbors voted for Trump but are "not getting what they thought" from the president.

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1 a.m.

President Donald Trump's stepped-up campaign tour this week is taking him to North Dakota to help a Republican candidate who reluctantly entered a high-stakes Senate race and then questioned the support he has received from the White House.

Rep. Kevin Cramer made it clear he was less than happy with Trump's friendly treatment of Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp. Cramer recently called White House Chief of Staff John Kelly asking for the campaign to take a new approach.

Cramer says the hubbub was "more about the White House than me," but some Republicans believe it's time for Trump to take on Heitkamp.

Heitkamp says she's curious how Trump will portray her record, which she says has favored many issues the president cares about, like environmental and banking regulations.

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